TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- It took until November 18th but Florida State finally made itself bowl-eligible with the 28-20 win over Western Michigan before approximately 60,000 in Doak Campbell Stadium.

Even though FSU was a 16-point favorite, the game was in doubt until the final play. Down only eight points with a little over two minutes left to play, the Broncos drove the ball to FSU's 11-yard line before a tackle for loss by Letroy Guion and a holding call pushed WMU back to the 30-yard line. Two plays later a desperation throw in the endzone was knocked away by cornerback Tony Carter allowing the 'Noles to escape with the eight-point victory.

"It was one of those ball games were it seems like you couldn't seem to wrap it up," head coach Bobby Bowden said. "You feel like you're going to get it wrapped up and then you let them off the hook."

If FSU is invited to a bowl game it will keep alive a streak of 24 straight years where the 'Noles have gone bowling. If the 'Noles get an invite, it would be to either the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco (CA) on December 27th or the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise (ID) on the 31th. Either way, the players say they will take it considering how the season has gone.

"It means a lot, because being Florida State we know that playing in a bowl game is something we are supposed to do, not something we hope to do," wide receiver Greg Carr said.

Drew Weatherford, making his first start since the October 21st Boston College game, came out of the gates slow completing just 2-of-6 for 7 yards in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the Broncos were able to put together a 12-play, 44-yard drive on their opening possession to take the early 3-0 lead.

Making matters worse for the 'Noles, Antone Smith, who was making his first career start, dislocated his elbow on his first carry from scrimmage and was lost for the rest of the game. Smith told Warchant.com that he is done for the season.

FSU finally put together its first scoring drive early in the second quarter. After Weatherford completed a fourth down pass to fullback Matt Dunham to keep the drive alive, a reverse to Chris Davis worked like a charm. Thanks to a nice block by Weatherford, the senior wide receiver had an easy 8-yard touchdown run.

On the Broncos' next possession, free safety Roger Williams stepped in front of a Ryan Cubit pass and returned it 7 yards to WMU's 33-yard line. On the very next play, Xavier Lee, on his fist play of the game, hit Greg Carr for a 26-yard strike in the back of the endzone. That put the 'Noles up 14-3 midway into the second quarter.

A Florida State special teams breakdown on the next kickoff led to Western Michigan's one first half touchdown. Broncos' returner Brandon West found a gaping hole on the right side of the field and returned it 61-yards to FSU's 31-yard line. A few plays later, nobody on defense accounted for wide receiver Joe Chapple, who reeled in a 23-yard touchdown, cutting FSU's lead to 14-10 at the half.

The Seminole offense moved the football more effectively in the second half but continued to bog down in and near the redzone. When FSU unable to punch it in, Gary Cismesia was called upon twice in the third quarter to attempt a field goal. However, the junior place-kicker went 0-for-2 with misses from 44 and 41 yards out. Those misses allowed WMU to keep the game close.

The difference in the second half was a Lawrence Timmons' interception return late in the third quarter and a second touchdown pass from Lee to Carr early in the fourth. On the interception, Timmons, a junior linebacker, stepped in front of a pass near the sideline and returned it 19-yards for the defensive score.

"They threw the same pattern two or three times," Timmons said. "Before that I was kind of late on it but this time I was on it. The d-line got to the quarterback pretty fast and he was forced to throw it and it came straight to me. I just caught it and took it to the house."

Lee's second hookup with Carr a few minutes later not only proved to be the game-winner, but moved Carr into a 9th place tie with Talman Gardner on FSU's all-time touchdown catch list.

Despite a last minute drive by WMU, the defense held tough keeping the Broncos out of the endzone and preserved the victory.

Next week, FSU will host instate rival Florida in a Noon kickoff. The game is scheduled to be broadcast regionally by ABC.